The church fell into a stunned silence as Colonel Frederick made his abrupt departure, leaving Samara, Damien, and the bewildered guests grappling with the sudden turn of events. Samara's heart raced with a whirlwind of emotions - relief at seeing Frederick alive, guilt for moving on, and confusion about what to do next. Damien, his face a mask of shock and hurt, watched as Samara followed Frederick out of the church, his own heart heavy with disappointment and disbelief.“Samara..?" He calls her, stopping her in her strides.She turns to look at him. “That's my husband, Damien..."“Just like that?" he questioned, obviously hurt by the turn around of event.Samara's eyes softened at the sight of the pain in Damien's face, but her resolve did not waver. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, her voice quivering with emotion."Damien, you have been nothing but kind and loving to me, and I will always cherish the time we had together," she said. "But Frederick... he's my husband. He's a pa
Back at their house, the air was heavy with tension as Samara met Frederick quietly seated in their dimly lit living room. The weight of unspoken words hung between them, suffocating the silence that enveloped the space.Samara's heart raced with uncertainty as she watched Frederick, his expression unreadable as slowly got up, and began to pace back and forth, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room. She longed to reach out to him, to bridge the chasm that had formed between them, but she knew that their wounds ran deep, their hearts scarred by the pain of betrayal and loss.With a heavy sigh, Frederick finally stopped pacing, his gaze meeting Samara's with a mixture of anger and resignation. "I don't know what to say, Samara," he began, his voice strained with emotion. "I never thought I'd see the day when I would lose you to someone else." Samara's throat tightened at his words, her pain mirrored in his eyes. "Frederick, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I ne
Colonel Frederick couldn't take his eyes off Samara, as she started unbuttoning his shirt, while he undid his belt buckle. Done with his shirt, she helped him with his belt, pushing his pants and underwear off, and he quickly kicks them away. Now they were both naked. Samara's whole body quivered with anticipation. She was breathing hard, everything felt so heightened.He reached out and touched her, her body tensing at his gentle caress as his hands moved slowly, feeling allof her.He eased her back on the bed and she lay beneath me. She touched his face as he lowered his body to hers. She breathed out a deep sigh as she plunged into her slowly and gently. Samara moaned softly, as felt him enter deep into her.Frederick watched her face as she closed her eyes, her body felt so good and warm inside, and he loved her so completely. They moved together in rhythm as hermoans became a beautiful song. He felt a deep joy within him growing and filling him, gaining intensity until it brok
Damien paced back and forth, fuming and cussing. He hadn't spoken to Samara after the intrusion by her resurrected husband at their wedding. He had tried several ways to reach her, but it looked like she was intentionally avoiding him. Why would she do that though? He thought, panicking and stressed, as he worried about what exactly was going on in Samara's head. He needed to know where her head was at? “Damien..?" Sebastian called, as he walked in and saw how restless his friend was. “What's going on?" “What you mean what's going on?" Damien snaps at him. “I was supposed to be a happily married man now." Sebastian sighs. “I'm sorry about that man." “What's worse is she isn't even picking up my calls. She is avoiding me," he complains. “I understand your frustration, but you also have to understand the fact that her husband is back and she is definitely in a difficult situation." Sebastian tried to explain. “What's difficult about the situation though? She loves me and not
Samara's heart felt heavy as she welcomed her sister into her home, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Thank you for being here," she whispered, a tear escaping her eye. Debrah returned the hug, offering silent support before pulling back slightly to ask, "And what about the Colonel?" "He's at the hospital, getting his wounds checked," Samara replied, leading her sister towards the living room. “Madeleine please get us two cups of tea," she orders, and Madeleine nods and disappears to the kitchen. "How are things between you and the Colonel?" Debrah inquired gently as they settled on the couch. Samara's expression darkened. "Horrible," she admitted with a sigh. "He still hasn't forgiven you?" Debrah asked, concern evident in her voice. Samara shook her head sadly. "He did, but then he found out..." "Found out what?" Debrah prompted, sensing the weight of Samara's words.Madeleine interrupts their conversation as she serves them both with two cups of hot brimming tea, befo
Samara froze, her heart sinking as she heard Colonel Frederick's voice. She turned slowly to see him standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable."Frederick, I..." Samara began, her voice trembling with guilt and fear.But Frederick held up a hand, silencing her. His gaze shifted from Samara to Debrah, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What is she talking about? Cheating on me with Damien?"Debrah glanced at Samara, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Frederick. I didn't mean to..."But Frederick cut her off, his voice cold and controlled. "I asked Samara."Samara swallowed hard, feeling a knot form in her throat. "Frederick, I... I didn't mean for you to find out like this."Frederick's jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with a mix of hurt and anger. "How long?" he demanded, his voice barely above a whisper.Samara hesitated, feeling the weight of her deception crushing her. "Since before you disappeared," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "I met him before we got m
As they arrived at Damien's house, Samara's heart raced with anxiety. She knew this conversation wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to see it through. Debrah gave her a supportive nod before staying in the car, allowing Samara to face Damien alone.Samara took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, approaching Damien's front door. She could feel her pulse pounding in her temples as she knocked on the door. Damien answered, his expression guarded."Samara, what's going on?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.Samara swallowed hard, her voice firm but shaking slightly. "We need to talk, Damien. About us. About what we did."Damien's expression changed, a hint of anger and hurt flashing across his face. “What we did do? Samara we did nothing wrong, we all thought Frederick was dead."Samara sighed. “I was referring to way before that."“Samara, don't guilt trip yourself. Remember you were forced into a marriage you never wanted in the beginning."Samara felt a pang of guilt an
Later that evening, Samara found herself standing outside their bedroom. She hesitated for a moment, gathering her courage before pushing the door open. Frederick looked up from the bed, his expression unreadable."Frederick, can we talk?" Samara asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.Frederick's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Alright. I'm listening."Samara took a seat beside him on the bed, her hands trembling slightly. "There's something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago."Frederick's expression remained impassive, but she could see the flicker of pain in his eyes. "Go on."Samara took a deep breath. "Before we got married, I met Damien. And then when we moved to the city, we met again."Frederick's face hardened, his jaw clenched tightly. "You mean to tell me you were cheating on me from the very beginning of our marriage?""Yes," Samara whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I was lost, confused, and unhappy in our
A Few Months LaterThe sun cast its golden glow across the sprawling garden, the air alive with the scent of roses and the gentle hum of a string quartet. Frederick stood at the altar, his tailored suit a perfect fit, but it was the warmth in his eyes that truly defined him. This wasn’t just any wedding. It was a second chance—a rekindling of a love that had weathered storms and emerged stronger than ever.By his side stood Ethan, their little groom, looking dapper in his miniature suit. The boy’s chest puffed with pride as he held the rings tightly in his small hands. His bright eyes scanned the aisle with excitement, waiting for the moment his mother would arrive.The guests—all family and close friends—watched in quiet anticipation, their faces lit with joy. Ella, their sweet little bride, stood at the top of the aisle, her flower basket in hand. She giggled as she scattered petals with each step, her white dress billowing gently in the breeze.And then came Samara.Clad in an eleg
Damien stormed out of Caroline's apartment, his mind a whirlwind of anger and regret. He had thought he could control the situation, but Caroline's scheming had unraveled everything. Samara was gone, her trust shattered, and now he stood alone in the chaos he had helped create.As he drove through the city streets, Damien’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Caroline had pushed too far this time, and he wasn’t going to let her get away with it. He needed to find a way to repair the damage, but what actually could he do to win Samara back? Has he really lost her after all this time of scheming to be with her? Meanwhile, back at Caroline’s apartment, she reclined on the couch, her wine glass in hand, savoring her perceived victory. She had shaken Damien and pushed Samara out of his reach. Everything was the way it should be now. She smiled to herself. If she can't have Frederick, Damien can't have Samara either.----The next morning, Samara woke in Frederick’s arms, sunlight stream
Samara drove aimlessly through the city streets, the cool night air seeping through her car’s cracked window. The confrontation with Damien had left her emotionally drained, but beneath the exhaustion was a strange sense of liberation. For the first time in months, she felt like she was in control of her own story.Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, breaking her thoughts. She glanced at the screen—Frederick.After a moment’s hesitation, she picked it up. “Hello?”“Samara,” Frederick’s voice was calm but concerned. “Are you okay? You left so abruptly earlier. I was worried.”“I’m... better,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I ended things with Damien.”A pause. “You did?”“Yes,” she said firmly. “I couldn’t stay with him after what I found out.”“I’m proud of you,” Frederick said after a beat. “It takes strength to walk away from something that isn’t good for you.”Samara swallowed the lump in her throat, grateful for his unwavering support. “Thank you, Frederick. I don’t know what
Frederick opened the door almost instantly when Samara knocked, as though he’d been waiting for her. His expression shifted from concern to alarm when he saw the tears streaking her face and the phone clutched tightly in her hand.“Samara, what happened?” he asked, stepping aside to let her in.She walked past him, her body trembling with the effort to stay composed. “I was right,” she said, her voice breaking. “Caroline… Damien… they’ve been working together this whole time.”Frederick frowned, shutting the door and guiding her to the couch. “What do you mean? What did you find out?”Wordlessly, Samara unlocked her phone, pulled up the video, and handed it to him. She couldn’t bear to watch it again, but the sound of Damien and Caroline’s voices filled the room, each word cutting deeper than the last.Frederick’s jaw tightened as he watched. By the time the video ended, his hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. “Unbelievable,” he muttered, his voice low and furious. “Th
Frederick’s hand covered hers, his touch steadying. “Samara, Damien isn’t the kind of man I’d trust with anything important. But this... this also sounds like something Caroline would orchestrate. She’s manipulative, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get what she wants.”“But what if he’s lying to me, Frederick?” she whispered. “What if everything we’ve built is a lie?”Frederick hesitated, his grip tightening slightly. “Then you deserve to know the truth. You don’t have to make any decisions tonight, Samara. Take your time. Don’t let them rush you into anything.”She looked at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. “I don’t know where to go from here.”He gave her a faint, bittersweet smile. “You’re stronger than you think. You’ll figure it out.”Samara felt a sudden rush of gratitude for him. Despite everything they’d been through, Frederick was still there for her, steady and unwavering. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder as the weight of the eveni
Samara sat frozen in her chair, the café's lively atmosphere fading into the background. Her mind replayed Caroline's words, the images she had shown, and the implications they carried. The thought that Damien might have been working with Caroline all along made her stomach churn.Gathering herself, she took a deep breath and stood. She couldn’t let Caroline get to her—not without hearing Damien's side of the story first.---Later that evening, Samara sat in the living room, her arms crossed as she waited for Damien to return home. The engagement ring on her finger seemed to burn against her skin, a symbol of trust she now questioned. The door clicked open, and Damien walked in, his usual confident stride faltering when he saw her expression.“Samara?” he asked, setting his briefcase down. “What’s wrong?”She stood, holding her phone tightly. “Caroline,” she said flatly.His brows furrowed. “What about Caroline?”“She met with me today. She showed me pictures, Damien. Pictures of you
Caroline sat on the plush sofa in her mother’s elegant living room, her legs crossed as she sipped a glass of wine. The tension from the courtroom battle had faded, replaced by a smug satisfaction. Across from her, Eleanor watched her daughter closely, her expression a mix of pride and concern.“Now that you’ve gotten custody of Ella,” Eleanor began, setting her teacup down delicately, “what’s your plan? You’ve won the battle, but what about the war?”Caroline swirled her wine, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Oh, Mother, you know me. I always have a plan.”Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “Caroline, I’m serious. Frederick won’t take this lying down. You’ve poked the bear, and he’s bound to retaliate. You need to be careful.”Caroline laughed lightly, the sound tinged with bitterness. “Careful? Frederick can try whatever he wants, but I’m one step ahead of him. He’s predictable—too righteous for his own good. Ella’s mine now, and I’ll make sure he knows that.”Eleanor leaned forward, her to
As the court recessed for deliberation, Frederick sat silently, his heart pounding. The wait was excruciating.When everyone reconvened, Judge Carter addressed the room. The courtroom was silent as she prepared to deliver her decision.“This case has been difficult,” she began, her tone measured. “Both parents clearly love Ella and want what’s best for her. The court’s role is to determine the arrangement that will most benefit the child.”Frederick held his breath, his pulse pounding in his ears.“While Colonel Smyth has provided a stable environment, the court recognizes the importance of a child having a meaningful relationship with her mother. Ms. Caroline Matthews has demonstrated a commitment to her personal growth and to being a responsible parent.“Therefore, I am awarding primary custody to Ms. Caroline Matthews. Colonel Frederick Smyth will have visitation rights, including alternating weekends and scheduled holidays.”Frederick felt as though the ground had been ripped out
A frown creased Frederick's forehead as he set his briefcase on the table and walked through the house. The kitchen was immaculate, no sign of the half-finished sandwiches Ella often left behind or the coffee Caroline habitually abandoned on the counter.“Ella?” Frederick called again, a hint of worry creeping into his tone.He climbed the stairs to Ella’s room. When he pushed the door open, his heart sank. The room was disturbingly bare. Ella’s favorite stuffed animals were gone, her bookshelves empty save for a stray coloring book. Her pink suitcase—the one Caroline insisted was for “special trips”—was missing from its usual spot in the corner.Frederick’s pulse quickened as he turned and headed to the master bedroom. He flung the closet doors open, his stomach dropping when he saw Caroline’s clothes missing. Drawers that once held her belongings were now empty, leaving only a stray hanger or two.Panic clawed at his chest. He pulled out his phone and dialed Caroline’s number, pacin